PHOENIX — Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) stood proudly on Monday at Turning Point USA's headquarters, signing and presenting a $1 million check from his campaign funds to fuel the expansion of conservative "Club America" chapters across every public high school and college in the Lone Star State. The move fulfills his November 2025 pledge and comes amid escalating backlash from progressive educators, unions, and media outlets who decry it as overly partisan despite the broad pro-America mission of Club America.
Proud to present my $1 million campaign check to @TPUSA at their Phoenix headquarters today to advance the goal of putting a Club America chapter on every high school campus in Texas.
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) February 3, 2026
I made the decision to make this contribution because of my friendship with Charlie. Charlie… pic.twitter.com/SvKm0uzP4w
Club America serves as a student-led initiative of TPUSA aimed at fostering patriotism, constitutional education, and free-market principles among teenagers. There are over 1,200 chapters nationwide that provide resources, event kits, and guidance from full-time field representatives to empower patriotic young Americans.
While Texas leads with the most chapters and has now opened the door for the organization’s presence in every public high school, other Republican-led states have similarly embraced the organization. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced full state support to help establish Club America chapters in Florida high schools. Oklahoma's former Secretary of Education announced a similar partnership, as did Tennessee, which collaborated with its legislature to launch chapters across public schools.
Lt. Gov. Patrick's $1 million donation from his campaign funds has taken statewide commitments to the group to an unprecedented level, marking the first such financial pledge from a state official to directly bolster the nonprofit’s expansion.
Patrick invoked his faith and a personal debt to the organization's late founder, Charlie Kirk, as the catalyst for his strong support of TPUSA’s mission. "The Lord put it on my heart," Patrick said in a statement to RedState. "He [Kirk] was so kind and generous to me. And he had such a vision. I felt like I just owed it to him. He gave his life for what he believed.” He added that universal pro-capitalism and pro-America messaging was “important to tell people and young people around the country."
Back in Texas, left-leaning commentators and public school union leaders have cried foul. Zeph Capo, President of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, said what Patrick has done is “beyond the pale.” David DeMatthews, a left-wing public school advocate, agreed with Capo, calling the move “highly concerning.”
Patrick disagrees and thinks promoting patriotism, constitutional principles, and free-market capitalism are bipartisan principles for everyone except the radical left. Lt. Gov. Patrick reinforced this point in comments to RedState after the event, saying, “The battle in America right now is not Republican and Democrat. It's darkness and light. The left movement in this country is a darkness that rejects these values, and because they’re pushed by totalitarian governments in other countries who are our enemies.”
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